Casper Man Admits Sexual Contact With Child And…

CASPER — A 25-year-old local man who allegedly bragged about having sex with young children pleaded guilty Friday to sexual abuse of a child and production and possession of child pornography.

Christopher James Schmidt was led into a Natrona County District Court courtroom Friday morning in orange jail scrubs and shackles. He conferred with his attorney, Kurt Infanger, before pleading guilty to seven of nine felony charges in a plea agreement.

The charges stem from an investigation earlier this year by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, in which he allegedly bragged in online chats about performing sex acts with children and about his urges to do things with children.

Under the plea agreement with Natrona County Deputy District Attorney Blaine Nelson, the seven charges were divided into two groups, each carrying concurrent sentences. At sentencing, the attorney would argue whether the two groups of charges were to be served consecutively or concurrently.

Judge Joshua Eames asked Schmidt if he understood the terms of the settlement and then read through the charges, which included first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and solicitation of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, which were lumped together.

The second group of charges includes one charge of sexual contact with a minor and four charges of sexual exploitation of children.

“I plead guilty”

After Eames read the indictment, he asked Schmidt how he would plead.

“I plead guilty, Your Honor,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt then told the judge that he had had sexual contact with a child between August 1 and August 31, 2023, and that he had also “communicated with individuals” about opportunities for them to have sexual contact with the child “but that this was never the intention.”

As for possession of child pornography, he admitted it.

“I have indeed possessed explicit children’s material,” he said.

Schmidt also admitted to fabricating pornography and that the information he gave investigators in an arrest affidavit was accurate. It stated that Schmidt “admitted to sexually abusing (a minor) approximately three times and producing images of child pornography.”

Judge Eames then noted that Schmidt’s confession was made “consciously and voluntarily.”

The judge then dismissed two charges involving second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

Background of the case

Schmidt was arrested on May 13.

A sworn statement filed in federal court in Casper shows the charges stem from an investigation by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation that began with a May 9 FBI request for assistance regarding Schmidt and an anonymous complaint sent to the FBI’s National Threat Information Center.

Further investigation found files that led to Schmidt’s home address. These files included video clips and photos showing sexual acts with prepubescent girls.

Investigators also found electronic chats Schmidt allegedly had with other men, in which he discussed various alleged acts involving underage children.

A DCI investigation into previous cybertips allegedly linked to Schmidt’s online profile found five files dating back to 2022 containing images of child pornography, the statement said.

He ‘advertised’

The affidavit, which has been redacted to protect the identities of some individuals and victims, describes several chat conversations Schmidt had that used words and phrases known to “advertise” underage sex and child pornography.

When executing a search warrant, the sworn statement states: “Numerous chats were found indicating (Schmidt) had a sexual interest in children and that there may have been sexual abuse of a child. The chats occurred in April and May 2024.”

In total, investigators cited six conversations about sexual contact with minors and child pornography that Schmidt allegedly had in May and April, the statement said.

On May 13, documents show that special agents interviewed Schmidt, and he admitted that he saw his first images of child pornography when he was 16 and that he regularly viewed porn before going down that “rabbit hole.”

Possible punishments

The charge of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree carries a prison sentence of 25-50 years and a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The charge alleges an incident of sexual intrusion on a minor between August 1-31, 2023 in Natrona County.

The charge of solicitation of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree involves offering a child for sexual abuse in the first degree, but the act was not attempted or committed by other persons. The alleged date of the offense was between April 1 and May 15, 2024. The charge carries a penalty of not less than 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years, as well as a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

The charge relates to sexual contact with a minor that occurred between August 1 and September 30, 2023. It carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

One of the charges of child sexual exploitation, involving the production, reproduction and distribution of child pornography, is punishable by a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

The remaining three charges of child sexual exploitation, involving possession of pornographic files, carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Dale Killingbeck can be reached at [email protected].